Constellium extends offer so workers can vote

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. -- Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood is extending its contract offer to striking workers so they can vote on the proposal.

United Steelworkers officials have scheduled a vote by secret ballot on Wednesday.

Constellium's offer was scheduled to expire at midnight Saturday. The company says the offer has been extended through Wednesday.

Seven hundred members of United Steelworkers Local 5668 went on strike Aug. 5 after contract talks broke down. Constellium made a new offer last week, two days after both sides met with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin in Charleston.

Proposed changes to health insurance are an issue. Constellium now pays 100 percent of workers' insurance premiums. The contract offer would require workers to pay 5 percent of their health care costs.